Valves and children

[savysmommy]

Its time for me to make a decision on a valve. The surgeon I met with yesterday was talking about how a tissue valve can last from 5-10 years in someone my age (25).

Tissue valve means I can have another child. Mechanical.. likely not.

I don't like the idea that I will be a time limit for children if I go with a tissue valve. Because basically, if I go with a tissue valve.. I will need to have another child ASAP, or at least in the next 4-5 years. Then, another surgery once that valve fails.

I am curious what others have done that are in my age group, or at least in the child baring age group. How did you make the decision?

I know that I am blessed to have a daughter now, I suppose if she is all that I have, I could live with it.. But, I am still so young to make such a BIG decision. I am worried that in 5 years, I might feel differently and really want to have more of my own children.

Thanks in advance for any feedback/thoughts.

 

[AmyCe]

Valves and Children

Valves and Children

Hi!
Check out www.girlvalves.com for much discussion and support on this very subject!

 

[Karlynn]

I had 2 children when I had my mechical valve put in. It was the pregnancy with my second child that wrecked havoc on my mitral valve. We had always planned on having 3. I went through a period of about 3 years (during the time we would have probably had our 3rd) that I really grieved the inability to have another child. While this was somewhat painful for me, I did have 2 already. I might have been more upset, had I only had one, but had planned on more. After the grieving period was over, we briefly considered adoption, but by then we were really settled into the routine of 2 kids and made the decision to keep it at that.

I never regreted getting the mechanical and found, that as my children became older, that it bought me the time to be a healthy, recoverd Mom when I needed it most. The Jr. High and High School years were so busy, and that would have been about the time I would have gone through another replacement, had I been given a tissue valve.

It's a tough decision. There has been a lot of talk on this site about going with tissue in order to get pregnant. The question I haven't seen answered is whether or not this decreases the life of the tissue valve. It may be a question you'd want to ask should you be leaning in that direction. I think it would be hard to have a baby and another valve replacement shortly after.

The key is to make the decision you are most comfortable with, then commit to living a happy life with that decision.

Best wishes.

 

[Yaps]

Deborah needs to see this, she has had a tissue since a teen and has a little girl, Im sure she will help you. Love Yaps

 

[KMB]

I am in the same boat as you. After many years of waiting to see if they were ever going to fix my valve, it is finally going to happen tomorrow. When I talked to my cardio about children, she said it was possible, just VERY high risk. I am 26 years old. I am going to have the ON-X valve - maybe a repair -but I am pretty sure the ON-X - it is currently in studies that long term patients would take asprin instead of cumadin. I hope that long term I would be able to have children naturally, but my husband and I have also researched adoption. It is sometimes hard to see pregnant women knowing that I may never experience that in my lifetime, but at the same time the thought of adopting is so powerful. There are a lot of good books about adoption - We have one called "Is adoption right for you?" I also did not research the tissue valves because I don't want to have this surgery again in 8-10 years if I don't have to. Definately do enough research to make your decision - it is one only you can make.
Good luck!!

 

[savysmommy]

I was pretty set on a tissue valve, then after I discussed it more with the surgeon and my husband, I am leaning more towards the mechanical. I suppose I can live with that desicion.. but, it makes me sad to think that I may not ever be pregnant again.

I dont know anything about the On-X valve. I think I have seen it mentioned on a few threads here but thats about it. My surgeon didnt mention it to me.

I know I am lucky to go through this now, after at least having one. But, it's still hard to come to terms with the fact I may not have another.

I went to that girlvalves forum.. There was someone on there who had a baby, or two.. (I already forgot the details) with a mechanical valve.

Hopefully in the next few years there will be a coumadin replacement for those wishing to have children.

KMB-Tomorrow..?? Good luck! I hope you have a very speedy recovery!

Shannon

 

[tobagotwo]

At 25, there is a pretty good likelihood you're going to need another valve eventually, no matter which type you choose. But there's no question that a mechanical valve will last much longer from that age group.

As far as I have been able to deduce from watching posts and reading, pregnancy does seem to chew up a tissue valve faster than it would go without. However, many young women do go that route in order to undergo pregnancy. From women speaking of childbirth vs. the open heart surgery, survey says: childbirth is definitely more painful.

It is also possible, but not advisable, to have a baby while on Coumadin. It would not be a good idea to make plans that depend on the On-X being approved for use with aspirin. It might happen, but there is no guarantee. The FDA tends to be very conservative about such things.

I hope you find a choice that works well for you.

Best wishes,

 

[Debrinha GT]

Here I am!

Here I am!

Ever since I was a child, my former cardio has always been against me having children, but once I'd been married for a couple of years and was living in Scotland, I started to question that. The cardio I had there then told me that providing my valve was working properly he didn't see any reason why I shouldn't become a mother if I wanted to. By then I'd been so brain washed into believing that I couldn't, shouldn't have children, that I was just far too frightened. But a few years later, back in Brazil, I changed cardios and the new one told me the same thing I'd been told in Scotland. Well, It still took me a wee while to make up my mind and when I finally did, it was too late, I mean, the need for the third surgery came first. I remember the surgeon asking me what kind of valve I wanted after having explained the pros and cons of either type to me. I wanted a baby so badly that I didn't think twice, and went tissue again. Three months after the operation I was given the big OK to get pregnant which I did three months later. Bruna was delivered by C-section on February27th, 1997. The valve I've now had for nearly ten years is a Pericardium bovine bioprosthetic cardioprothesis valve No29, and even though it's calcifying I've already decided that I'll get yet another tissue put in me next time as well. I've just turned fourty and I don't intend to have any more children for several reasons also regardless of my heart issues. Feel free to ask any questions you like and if you'd rather PM me or send me an E-mail, it's up to you. Best of luck!
Débora